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An accounting software provider has announced a new partnership aimed at providing preventative mental health support for small-business owners through the COVID-19 crisis.
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New partnership aims to help business mental health
13 May 2020
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MYOB and Smiling Mind have teamed up to launch four dedicated mental health modules — Mindfulness Foundations, Stress Management, Relationships and Resilience — designed to help small-business owners be proactive in managing their mental health.
MYOB chief employee experience officer Helen Lea said the new content comes at a time when small-business owners are needing extra support, following MYOB research into the effects of COVID-19 on mental health.
The research coincides with recent concerns expressed by the professional accounting bodies into the effects of the current situation on mental health in the accounting profession.
According to Ms Lea, 67 per cent of research respondents said they had been feeling either stressed or anxious as a result of restrictions relating to COVID-19.
“As rewarding as it can be, running a small business brings with it a range of stressors and challenges,” Ms Lea said.
“Partnering with Smiling Mind to enable them to create dedicated content for the 2.4 million small businesses in Australia is one way we can help this community.”
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Smiling Mind co-founder and chair Jane Martino said each of the new modules represented a “critical building block” for small-business owners focusing on their mental health.
“Australian businesses are under immense pressure right now, and the confronting reality is that these COVID-19-related burdens are likely to remain for months, and potentially years, to come,” Ms Martino said.
“We know that when you allow your mind to enter a state of calm, you have the mental clarity to help your business thrive — we want to deliver a sense of control to business owners at a time where control has been so elusive.”
Working from home
According to the MYOB research, one-third of business owners have been feeling negative impacts on their wellbeing from working from home.
MYOB said 33 per cent of research respondents were struggling to separate their home and working lives, while 32 per cent also said they were impacted by the lack of face-to-face interactions.
Other major stressors were not being able to socialise with colleagues, sitting at a desk all day, and snacking and not eating the right foods.
On the flip side, 51 per cent of respondents found exercising to have a positive effect on their wellbeing, with 47 per cent also saying just being outside helped improve their mood.
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